MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- The Alabama Senate passed a bill today that would allow for free, lifetime permits to carry pistols in vehicles and that would make other changes to state gun laws.

The bill passed after hours of debate and a parade of amendments, some of which were approved. It now moves to the House of Representatives.

Those who received a permit to carry in their vehicles would have to undergo a background check and the permits would be revocable if, for example, the permit holder committed a crime, said Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, the bills sponsor.

Under current law, a concealed carry permit is required to carry a pistol in a vehicle.

"This is about making sure that law abiding citizens have the ability to defend themselves and their family," Beason said.

People would still need permits to carry concealed pistols on their person outside of their vehicle. So in essence, the bill would create a second type of permit, one specifically for a vehicle.

If a person has a concealed carry permit to carry a pistol on their person, they would not need the separate permit for carrying in a vehicle. Beason said the bill would also clarify what he said is the spirit of current Alabama law as an "open carry" state. "From the very start I've said all this bill is really setting out to do was to clarify what was already in practice," Beason said.

The bill specifies that carrying a visible, holstered firearm in a public place, in and of itself, does not constitute the crime of disorderly conduct.

Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, who opposed the bill, said she was concerned it would lead to too many people openly carrying guns.

"We're going to end up with Alabama being like the wild, wild West," said Figures, one of five senators to vote against the measure. The bill would require sheriffs to decide within 30 days whether to issue a concealed carry pistol permit. Currently there is no time limit on a decision in the law, Beason said.

Under the bill, those denied a permit would be able to appeal in District Court.

People could buy concealed carry pistol permits for up to five years, rather than the current requirement for annual renewal.

The bill would also provide that an employer could not prohibit employees from storing a gun in their private vehicle at work.

The Business Council of Alabama had issued a statement earlier this week expressing opposition to the bill, saying it would erode constitutional property rights of businesses.

Some law enforcement officials have also expressed concerns about loosening restrictions on people carrying guns in public.

Beason's bill originally would have allowed carrying guns in vehicles with no permits. A substitute bill he introduced today, which is what ultimately passed, added the requirement for the free lifetime permit.

"That was the big sticking point that we all know sheriffs were talking about, and we dealt with that," Beason said.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- The Alabama Senate passed a bill today that would allow for free, lifetime permits to carry pistols in vehicles and that would make other changes to state gun laws.

The bill passed after hours of debate and a parade of amendments, some of which were approved. It now moves to the House of Representatives.

Those who received a permit to carry in their vehicles would have to undergo a background check and the permits would be revocable if, for example, the permit holder committed a crime, said Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, the bills sponsor.

Under current law, a concealed carry permit is required to carry a pistol in a vehicle.

"This is about making sure that law abiding citizens have the ability to defend themselves and their family," Beason said.

People would still need permits to carry concealed pistols on their person outside of their vehicle. So in essence, the bill would create a second type of permit, one specifically for a vehicle.

If a person has a concealed carry permit to carry a pistol on their person, they would not need the separate permit for carrying in a vehicle. Beason said the bill would also clarify what he said is the spirit of current Alabama law as an "open carry" state. "From the very start I've said all this bill is really setting out to do was to clarify what was already in practice," Beason said.

The bill specifies that carrying a visible, holstered firearm in a public place, in and of itself, does not constitute the crime of disorderly conduct.

Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, who opposed the bill, said she was concerned it would lead to too many people openly carrying guns.

"We're going to end up with Alabama being like the wild, wild West," said Figures, one of five senators to vote against the measure. The bill would require sheriffs to decide within 30 days whether to issue a concealed carry pistol permit. Currently there is no time limit on a decision in the law, Beason said.

Under the bill, those denied a permit would be able to appeal in District Court.

People could buy concealed carry pistol permits for up to five years, rather than the current requirement for annual renewal.

The bill would also provide that an employer could not prohibit employees from storing a gun in their private vehicle at work.

The Business Council of Alabama had issued a statement earlier this week expressing opposition to the bill, saying it would erode constitutional property rights of businesses.

Some law enforcement officials have also expressed concerns about loosening restrictions on people carrying guns in public.

Beason's bill originally would have allowed carrying guns in vehicles with no permits. A substitute bill he introduced today, which is what ultimately passed, added the requirement for the free lifetime permit.

"That was the big sticking point that we all know sheriffs were talking about, and we dealt with that," Beason said.

According to a news release from the office of Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, the bill also would: -- Create protections for business entities so that the entity has no duty to guard against the criminal act of a third party and is not liable for the actions of employees whose actions are outside the line and scope of their employment. -- Allows owners of property open to the public to post adequate notice prohibiting firearms and have violators, including licensed carriers, arrested for trespassing if the individual refuses to leave when asked in the presence of a law enforcement agent. -- Establishes that a business entity may not prohibit a person's transportation or storage of a firearm or ammunition if certain conditions are met and allows for civil action in the event there is a violation of this property. -- Creates a list of prohibited places where a firearm may not be possessed without expressed permission of the owner (examples include college and high school athletic events, courthouses, and police and sheriff offices) -- Expands the "Castle Doctrine" to businesses, allowing for the use of deadly force in self-defense when an intruder enters his or her business.

Updated at 6:34 p.m. and at 8:27 p.m. to add more details about the bill.

Wild wild west? That would be the southern border that the feds refuse to enforce. In fact the flux of illegals is at least one reason why there is a continued and perhaps increased interest in gun ownership and carrying in Alabama.

I like New Mexico’s law that your vehicle is “extended domain”, or equal to your house. I got the security “director” of the multi-billion dollar defense contractor I work for to back down on guns in cars after I told him this. HQ was in CA, and they “banned” guns in company parking lots.

Good, but not best....for that, come to Virginia - where anyone who can legally own a gun can open carry anywhere except schools and federal buildings, courthouses, and ANYONE can carry a weapon in the console or glove compartment of their vehicle. No permit needed.

I am curious about Ms. Figurine - so she figures that Alabama will become like the “Wild West”. Well, two things, the West was never “wild” in the sense she’s using...that is Hollywood. It was actually a pretty boring place. Also, what state (or states), TODAY, has turned into her version of the “Wild West” due to increasing their level of gun freedoms? I doubt she has an answer...since there isn’t one.

15
posted on 04/05/2013 8:14:45 PM PDT
by BobL
(Look up "CSCOPE" if you want to see something really scary)

It would be nice if you had open carry rights in Texas as well. Everytime I go running while I am there, I have to go to a bit of trouble to make sure my sidearm is legally covered. Bit of a bother.

My state representative, Todd Hunter (R-TX32) who is the chairman of the calendar committee, if very interested in getting open carry legislation passed. The bills that he is talking about would require a CHL to carry openly.

19
posted on 04/06/2013 6:49:00 PM PDT
by Paleo Conservative
(Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not really out to get you.)

“My state representative, Todd Hunter (R-TX32) who is the chairman of the calendar committee, if very interested in getting open carry legislation passed. The bills that he is talking about would require a CHL to carry openly.”

It is a good start. I would love to see it happen. Thank Todd for me.

20
posted on 04/06/2013 7:14:04 PM PDT
by marktwain
(The MSM must die for the Republic to live. Long live the new media!)

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